Astria Health announced the need to go on Emergency Divert for Labor and Delivery patients at 4:00 p.m. today at Astria Toppenish Hospital. Once the last patient is discharged, the unit will close permanently. In a media release issued on December 14, 2022, Astria Toppenish Hospital (ATH) stated that it would no longer offer labor and delivery services in Toppenish, effective January 14, 2023, at midnight.
Astria Health and ATH leaders stated to staff that the health of their patients and their loved ones remain their priority. Due to the loss of contract staff, we are no longer able to staff the unit. We do have adequate staff to care for the patients currently in the unit.
“We have notified our community health partners and physicians,” said Brian Gibbons, Astria Health President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO). “It is important for laboring mothers-to-be to know that they can safely deliver at Astria Sunnyside Hospital, Yakima Memorial Hospital, or the hospital of their choosing.”
The labor and delivery staffing at Astria Toppenish Hospital is a mix of permanent and traveler/contracted labor nursing staff.
“We appreciate and are grateful for the work of the Family Maternity Center in Toppenish and the dedication and loyalty of our obstetrics staff, leadership and team members,” said Gibbons.
Astria Health, headquartered in the heart of the Yakima Valley, is the largest non-profit healthcare system based in Eastern Washington. Astria Health is the parent organization of Astria Sunnyside Hospital and Astria Toppenish Hospital, along with 22 outpatient clinics offering primary care and specialty services, including but not limited to behavioral health, home health and hospice, neurosurgery, oncology, podiatry, rehabilitation therapy and sleep medicine. For more information, please visit www.astria.health.
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Posted December 22, 2022